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Aerosol Composition and Chemistry in Electronic Cigarettes in Response to Coil Temperature and E-liquid Formulation
Yichen Li, Belinda Ortega, Amanda Burns, Lillian Tran, Karizza Abellar, Morgan Poindexter, Xiaohan Li, Brian Brandley, George Hodgin, Amy Madl, Kent Pinkerton, TRAN NGUYEN, University of California, Davis
Abstract Number: 429
Working Group: Health-Related Aerosols
Abstract
E-cigarette aerosol is a complex mixture of gases and particles whose composition is dependent on e-liquid formulation and puffing regimen. We present new insights into the balance of mass and chemical composition of mainstream aerosols from a 3rd generation e-cigarette device, as a function of on coil temperature and e-liquid composition. Two e-liquid systems were studied of varying composition (0:100 – 100:0): (A) mixtures of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) that are relevant for nicotine-based e-cigarettes, and (B) mixtures of purified tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil and vitamin e acetate (VEA), which may be relevant for the onset of e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI). The thermal degradation of these e-liquid compounds in the e-cigarette vessel produces a large variety of carbonyl and hydroxycarbonyls via heat-induced and radical-induced formation pathways. Coil temperature and e-liquid composition affect the total aerosol mass through modifying the aerosolization rates, but also the aerosol composition by modifying the efficiency and pathways of thermally-induced degradation. We discuss how heating the mixture of PG:VG and VEA:THC-oil with a coil impact aerosol composition compared to the pure substances. We demonstrate how the unequal aerosolization rates from PG and VG severely impact the emissions of toxic carbonyls such as acrolein during the lifecycle of the e-liquid tank or cartridge.